This species is genetically very diverse across its range and shows a high degree of population structure, with four distinct clusters: Central America and Mexico, north-northwest South America, north-northeast South America and southern South America. The demarcation between northern and southern South America was identified as the Amazon river (Eizirik et al. 1998).

Justification:
Recent ecological studies have shown that the ocelot usually ranks first in felid abundance in most habitat types in the lowland Neotropics, and that the species can reach density estimates high enough for maintaining several long-tern viable populations, especially in the Amazon Basin, its stronghold (Oliveira et al. in submission, Oliveira et al. in press). For this reason it is listed as Least Concern. However, some subpopulations are threatened, and decreasing (IUCN Cats Red List Workshop 2007).

The ocelot is widely distributed from Mexico through Central and South America south to NE Argentina and southern Brazil and Uruguay, found in every country except Chile. Only a small remnant population is found north of the Rio Grande in the United States, estimated at 80-120 animals (Sunquist and Sunquist 2002). In Mexico it has disappeared from much of its historic range on the west coast. There are report of the species up to 3000 m but there are likely outliers.

Ocelot population densities throughout its entire range from 5 to 100/100 km², and are typically much higher than other small sympatric felids (Oliveira et al. in press). Ocelots exert a negative effect on the population of the smaller sympatric species (the ocelot effect) (Oliveira et al. in press). Vulnerable in Colombia (Rodriguez-Mahecha et al., 2006) and Argentina (Diaz and Ojeda 2000). In Brazil, populations outside the Amazon are listed as VU (Machado et al. 2005).

The species occupies a wide spectrum of habitats including mangrove forests and coastal marshes, savanna grasslands and pastures, thorn scrub, and tropical forest of all types (primary, secondary, evergreen, seasonal and montane, although it typically occurs at elevations below 1,200 m) (Nowell and Jackson 1996), and shows a higher level of habitat plasticity than previously thought (Oliveira et al. in press).

The ocelot is a medium sized felid (11 kg), with a litter size of 1.4 kittens (1–4), and typically nocturno-crepuscular activity, but that could also be active during daytime (Oliveira and Cassaro 2005, Oliveira 1994). Throughout much of its range (including Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and Belize) this tends to be the most abundant cat species. The ocelot also reaches higher density estimates than its sympatric smaller species, usually >>0.15/km², and also negatively impact its small guild members. Its diet includes small mammals, birds and reptiles, but larger sized prey (>800 g), such as agoutis, armadillos, pacas, etc. are vital for the species persistence in an area. Average mean weight of mammalian prey is 1.4 kg (Oliveira et al. in press).

The ocelot has been described as being tolerant of disturbed habitat and persists in wooded patches near human settlements. However, recent studies have depicted a more specialized animal operating under rather harsh environmental constraints (Nowell and Jackson 1996). Although widespread commercial harvests for the fur trade ceased decades ago, some illegal trade still persists. At present the major threats are habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal trade (pets and pelts), and retaliatory killing due to depredation of poultry (IUCN Cats Red List workshop, 2007).

Included on CITES Appendix I. The species is protected across most of its range, with hunting banned in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname, Trinidad, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela, and hunting regulations in place in Peru (Nowell and Jackson 1996). Part of the species range includes protected areas, including some capable of maintaining long-term viable populations (Oliveira et al. in submission).